Filed under: Car Buying , GM , Toyota , Volkswagen General Motors released its first quarter sales figures this week, reporting that it sold 2.36 million cars and trucks worldwide. That figure represents an increase of 3.6 percent when compared to the same period last year. GM’s growth was attributed to many factors, including global Cadillac sales that were up 26 percent and Chevrolet posting a one percent increase over last year (this marked Chevy’s tenth straight year of record global sales). Volkswagen came in just behind GM, as the German automaker reported global sales from January through March at 2.27 million vehicles, an increase of five percent when compared to last year. While that number was strong, VW is cautioning that markets outside China and the US, such as those in Europe, are becoming a challenge as economies falter. Yet to report sales is Toyota , current holder of the global world sales crown (the Japanese company sold 9.75 million cars last year, against 9.29 million sold by GM and 9.1 million vehicles sold by VW). Even though GM and Toyota both say they don’t care who sells the most units, it is unquestionably a strong bragging point and sales equate to revenue. That said, Toyota will report its first quarter numbers next week. GM outsold VW globally in first quarter, Toyota reports numbers next week originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .

Filed under: Japan , Toyota , Earnings/Financials Toyota is expecting to see a sales increase of around two percent next year, according to Automotive News . The Japanese manufacturer is set to retake its position as the world’s largest automaker this year, and 2013 may see the company’s global sales step to 9.91 million vehicles. That figure includes sales from subsidiaries like Hino Motors and Daihatsu Motor Company. Much of that projection depends on US sales increasing to balance out a 15-percent decline in Japan . The Japanese government allowed subsidies for fuel-efficient vehicles to expire in September, and Toyota sales have slackened as a result. Globally, new vehicle sales are expected to crest 80 million units for the first time in 2012 despite economic woes in the European Union. Next year, Toyota expects to see its overseas operations enjoy an eight percent rise in sales to 7.87 million units while Japanese deliveries are projected to decline to 2.04 million vehicles. The company predicts sales in Asia, meanwhile, will be driven largely by Indonesia. Interestingly enough, the company has not settled on a sales target for China . Toyota already forecasting record sales in 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Dec 2012 14:16:00 EST.

Filed under: Car Buying , China , Europe , Chrysler , Honda , Toyota , Volkswagen , Fiat Automotive News has announced its annual list of Industry All-Stars. This year, the theme is apparently “success in the face of economic uncertainty,” or something of that liking. The list points to executives who have led their respective brands and automakers to positive sales in spite of the European financial crisis and slowing sales in China . See the list below, and you’ll understand why: Industry Leader of the Year and CEO, Europe – Martin Winterkorn, CEO, Volkswagen Group (above): The VW boss started with the German automaker in 2007, overseeing a staggering 12 brands. Under his leadership, sales of Volkswagens have gained in both China and America. VW has also expanded production to America and grown its operations in Brazil. Winterkorn is a very hands-on executive, traveling to America six times to test and tweak the American-built current-generation Passat. Volkswagen is aiming to be the largest and most profitable automaker in the wold by 2018, and Winterkorn will stay on through that time, making him accountable for those goals. CEO, North America – Sergio Marchionne, CEO, Chrysler Group: How does 31 straight months of positive year-over-year sales sound? The Fiat and Chrysler chief has bestowed dealers with a wealth of new product, and the American automaker is expected to post $1.5 billion in profits this year, in spite of economic turmoil in Europe.

Filed under: Japan , Toyota , Earnings/Financials Automotive News reports Toyota saw a sizable jump in third-quarter North American sales and has adjusted its global forecast accordingly. All told, the Japanese automaker sold 598,000 units in North America during the last quarter, marking an increase of 45 percent over the same time period last year. As a result, operating profit in the region also increased to $807.1 million, though Toyota also credits much of that figure to additional output. The company stepped up North American production by 42 percent in the third quarter. Last year at this time, the automaker was still reeling from the earthquake and tsunami disasters that struck Japan that March, and with its supply lines crippled, Toyota was forced to cut back production. Like other Japanese automakers, Toyota has seen its sales in China plummet. Sales in the region fell off by some 49 percent in September compared to the same month a year prior due to anti-Japanese protests in the country. Toyota sales surge by 45% in Q3, global forecast raised originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Nov 2012 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Filed under: Car Buying , China , Japan , Honda , Nissan , Toyota Vehicle sales in China took a sizable dip for the first time in eight months, due largely to the fact that buyers in the country are turning away from Japanese brands. Automotive News China reports wholesale deliveries fell by .3 percent last month, while Toyota and Nissan saw sales figures fall to their lowest levels since 2008. Meanwhile, figures compiled by Bloomberg indicate Honda had its worst month since May of 2011. While analysts in China expect market share to shift from Japanese brands to automakers like General Motors , Hyundai and Volkswagen , the Chinese Association of Automobile Manufacturers expects October to be another down month. Anti-Japanese riots recently broke out in China, with demonstrators targeting Japanese businesses and products with violence. Since then, buyers have participated in boycotting Japanese goods, including large items like cars and SUVs. Sales of Japanese vehicles fell by 41 percent to 160,000 units last month alone, slicing market share from 20.5 percent this time last year to 12.2 percent. Chinese auto sales take unexpected September slide amidst anti-Japan sentiment originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Filed under: China , Japan , Honda , Nissan , Toyota , Earnings/Financials Automotive News reports Japanese manufacturers are set to cut production in China by half. Toyota , Nissan and Honda have seen sales fall off by steep margins in the People’s Republic after a territorial dispute between Japan and China resulted in anti-Japanese protests. Sales of Japanese goods have declined amid calls for boycotts all over China. As a result, Nissan is currently planning to halt the night shift at its two Chinese facilities. Toyota and Honda, meanwhile, will reduce production by cutting back work hours and slowing production lines. The news comes courtesy of a report in the Nikkei newspaper, but has not been confirmed by the manufacturers themselves. There’s no indication as to how long the cut in production will last. As Automotive News points out, Japanese manufacturers were already scaling back production to meet demand before the protests broke out. The Chinese economy is currently in its slowest period of growth in the past three years. Even so, the shift away from Japanese vehicles has seen Hyundai sales jump by 15 percent last month.

Filed under: China , Japan , Buick , Cadillac , Chevrolet , GM , Honda , Nissan , Toyota , Volkswagen The unrest in China may have positive consequences for automakers like Volkswagen and General Motors , according to Automotive News . As protesters continue their streak of violence, many owners of Japanese vehicles are leaving them home for fear of damage. Protesters have vandalized Japanese businesses and those that sell Japanese goods, including car dealerships, as well personal property. Reports indicate some owners are swapping their Toyota badges for those of Chinese automaker BYD in hopes of fooling vandalism-minded mobs. Nissan , Toyota and Honda have all reported attacks on their dealerships, and China’s Passenger Car Association has predicted Japanese automakers may lose their market lead to those based in the U.S. and Germany. General Motors sold a total of 1.84 million vehicles in China under a total of three brand names, while Volkswagen moved 1.49 million units this year. By comparison, Nissan has sold just 485,000 vehicles. The protests mark the 81st anniversary of the Manchurian Incident, which saw Japanese forces invade China. General Motors and Volkswagen may benefit from anti-Japan protests in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Sep 2012 11:01:00 EST.